The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-03-30

Plant nj ihi~ S"SsDn.
(rrom the London ',Eccu.l
Where plants have been wintcrcd
the dwelling house they viii need car
ful attention during the month
March When the weather is s,ltiicien
! " mild The plants should be taken fro1
their winter quarters and any dust th;
may have accumulated on the folias
should be washed off with sponge an
water, and every dead or decaying le,
should be removed. Those subjec
sufficiently hardy to bear exposure ma,
with great advantage, De placed on Il
outer window-sill, but they should ~
be so placed While there is 4 cold wiz
blowing, nor mast they remain out a
night The very best time to put IL
plants ont for the first time is when
warm, gentle rain is falling, aptl y terme
growing weather.
Now is the time to make preparation
for spring pottins, a very neces5as
operation. The plants to be shifted
repotted, should be watered thorou @
two days previous to the day the oj
ton is to be performed, so that the
may be IN a proper state, neither 81
nor dry, and the fresh compost
should be in similar condition.
new pots are to be used, let thenS
soaked il water an hour or so before
plants are put into them; if the
employed be old ones, they should
well washed inside and ont and allo ~
to become perfectly dry. The drai 5
should be perfect. and each plant sh -
have a pot suitable to its size. OveI
hole in the centre Of the base of the
a large piece of broken flower pot,
small oyster shell, should be placed,
concave side downwards; then SIN M
pieces of flower pot should be add "
or small, clean bits OF broken brick
do-to the depth of at least an inch s.
plant that is to be repotted should
taken upside down in the left hand,
stem Of the plant between the m
fingers, the rim Of the poi gently ia ~ ~
upon the edge OF the table or other ~
venient solid substance, when the - u
1say be lifted with the right hand a
easily as the extinguisher from candle
The ball Of soil about the roots Shout
be examined; if healthy the plants ma.
be put into a pot a size larger than th
one from which it has just been taken
if any decayed roots present themselve
these should be nearl Y cut OF. The re
potting should be done firmly, the sol
being brought up to within half ar inc.
of the top OF the rim OF the pot; this vi
leave space sufficient for watering pur
poses.
In the matters OF situation, soil an
potting, plants require a considerabi
diversity OF treatment, yet aIthoug
these points are very essential in propa
cation, they are not vital in respect /
plants purchased during their season 0
bloom; the cultivation, OF rather,
should say, the after treatment, lies ii
nutshell. They must receive water an'
air in plenty, but the supplies must b
regulated according to the season an,
nature Of the plant With the exception
OF such subjects-thirsty subjects l .na.
say-as musk, India-ruboer plant an
Arum ethiopicum, no plants ordinaril,,
grown III rooms, should stand IL saucer
full OF water, and those plants | hay
mentioned should only be allowed to d
SO during their season Of active growth
With other plants the proper plan /
never to give water until the soil IS dry
then give plenty, sufficient, indeed, t.
saturate every particle Of soil, root ant
fibre, and when the surplus water ha
passed through into the saucer, til
latter, after the expiration of quartz
OF an hour or so, should be emptied
wiped dry and replaced.
When the weather is favorable, that i
to say, when neither torrents OF rain
frost or cutting winds preyaii-the plant
should be taken from the room into tn
open air, bringing them back-as l hay
already said-towards evening.